What is a bouilette lamp?

Bouillotte lamp is an oil-burning table lamp that was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was the successor to the earlier argand lamp, and it has a central oil reservoir (or "bouillotte") surrounded by a glass font, which in turn is shaded with a glass or metal shade. The lamp was typically made of brass, and it could have one, two, or even three wicks. The reservoir is a shallow, rounded vessel designed to hold the fuel. The font usually is clear glass but may be a colored glass or porcelain. These lamps often were quite decorative and were often used as centerpieces on dining tables.

Some bouillotte lamps were also convertible to candlesticks, and some versions had a hot plate or a built-in snuffer.

The invention of the bouillotte lamp was the first in a series of significant improvements in lighting systems. The bouillotte was far more efficient than the torches, candles, and lanterns used before, and it gave off twice as much light as its predecessors.